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We’ve added three new resources in our COVID-19 Tool Library that focus on what to do when a family member wants to move a loved one home, care for people with Alzheimer’s during COVID-19 and tips to improve infection control compliance. 

The COVID-19 pandemic doesn’t have an end in sight. Although we have heard from some members that staff are coping well, we need to consider the long-term effect of working in a crisis mentality. Now, more than ever, our ability to keep staff morale high is of utmost importance.

HUD-assisted housing communities across the country continue to navigate the impacts of COVID-19, including by helping residents lower their rent contributions if they have lost income due to the crisis. In an updated guidance document from April 2, HUD clarified options that housing property staff have for completing income recertifications as residents face economic challenges during COVID-19.  

The Minnesota Senate COVID-19 Response Working Group met yesterday, focusing their work on the impact on the long-term care community. LeadingAge Minnesota member Deb Barnes, Executive Director at Lakeview Methodist Health Care, began the hearing with testimony about the impact of COVID-19 in long-term care settings.  

As we shared with you last week, the Minnesota Department of Health began publishing the names of congregate care settings that have at least one resident, staff or contractor who is positive COVID-19. MDH will continue to update this list on an ongoing basis. Here are a few important items to know:   

The Minnesota Department of Health has released new guidance to help congregate settings accommodate requests to install a camera during visitor restrictions due to COVID-19 and the Stay at Home Executive Order.  

Value First has been researching various suppliers that can fill member needs for critical supplies such as masks, gowns, sanitizer, etc. We believe we have found a viable solution for reusable antimicrobial personal safety masks.  

Argentum and the American Seniors Housing Association have announced a new resource to help workers who have been displaced due to the fallout from COVID-19 find new employment opportunities in senior living: Senior Living FastMatch. As our field expects to fill several hundred thousand positions in the next few months, you are invited to post your available opportunities through FastMatch at no cost through Sept. 30, 2020.  

While the Families First Corona Response Act (FFCRA) requires private employers with fewer than 500 employees to provide paid leave and paid expanded FMLA leave to employees unable to work or telework for several specific COVID-19 reasons, it allows employers to exclude “health care providers” from receiving the paid leave and paid expanded FMLA leave. 

More than 1,000 Nursing Assistants have been trained using the OnTrack Nursing Assistant Training curriculum. With a pass-rate trending higher than the state average, OnTrack continues to see success in the second year of operation. 

Students from the University of Minnesota have banned together to offer support to healthcare workers during COVID-19. They are serving both the metro area and central Minnesota, with a toolkit provided to teach students in other areas of the state to start a similar program. Support can be accessed via their website: www.mncovidsitters.org. 

About $350 billion of the $2 trillion economic stimulus package signed into law last week are directed to provide loans to small businesses, with the opportunity for loan recipients to receive forgiveness and not have to repay the amount borrowed. On April 3, smaller 501c(3) organizations will be able to access these funds. This article provides a summary of the provisions and guidance for borrowers and lenders. 

Governor Tim has signed into law an additional $330 million package of initiatives to combat the health and economic challenges due to the COVID-19 crisis. The bill includes, amongst other provisions: 

After showing some improvement in 2017, occupancy results for care centers that participated in the Long-Term Care Imperative annual occupancy survey have declined slightly throughout 2018 and 2019. Occupancy for 2019 was the lowest we’ve ever found, 87.1%, and it declined each quarter throughout the year. 

The state Ombudsmen for Long-Term Care resolve complaints, protect rights, and promote access to services for residents before, during and after emergencies like COVID-19. While the Ombudsman has temporarily discontinued in-person visits in long-term care settings under its scope of authority due to COVID-19, residents still have the right to access the Ombudsman program. Below is an excerpt from a letter for Cheryl Hennen, the state Ombudsman, and phone numbers and a brochure to share with residents and families:  

It is with both tears and cheers that we share the news that Adam Suomala will be transitioning over the course of the next two months to an exciting new opportunity in our field as he becomes the Executive Director of the Minnesota Leadership Council on Aging (MNCLOA). 

Is your setting ready for an influx in a surge of residents? Do you have a surge plan? Join LeadingAge for a webinar on Thursday, March 26 from Noon-1 p.m. 

Professional caregivers provide critical support to those most vulnerable to complications from COVID-19 – our seniors. They deserve our gratitude. Face Aging MN has launched a new #ThankACaregiver campaign to encourage Minnesotans to share a message of appreciation with a senior caregiver via a web portal.  

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) is delaying the Minimum Data Set (MDS) 3.0 v1.18.1 release, which had been scheduled for Oct. 1, 2020, in response to stakeholder concerns. 

Due to COVID-19, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) has cancelled the Assisted Living Licensure Rules Advisory Committee meeting scheduled for March 26.  

While the license renewal cycle for nursing home administrators historically activates in May, the Minnesota Board of Examiners for Nursing Home Administrators (BENHA) recognizes that these are unprecedented times. In a news release distributed this week, BENHA provided the following counsel regarding continuing education or clock hours to renew your license:  

Recognizing the number of update calls you participate in mid-week, we have moved our COVID-19 HUDDLE to Fridays.

In response to COVID-19, Governor Tim Walz has released a series of Executive Orders. We have provided summaries of these via our daily update emails. Below you will find links to the Executive Orders that affect you and your staff: 

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has directed state agencies to suspend standard surveys for long term care facilities (nursing homes), hospitals, home health agencies, ICFs, and hospices during a 3-week prioritization period from March 20–April 10.  

In response to the growing need for COVID-19 training and education, our online training partner EduCare released a new course focused on COVID-19 symptoms and reporting protocols, proper preparation protocols, state infection prevention and control practices and what to do if you suspect a respiratory illness.  

The American Association of Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), which include many plans that offer Medicare Advantage plans to Minnesota consumers, recently announced that they are going to be matching the recent “blanket” CMS waivers on the three day stay and benefit period requirements. 

As of March 18, HUD has restarted routine processing and approval of Section 202 PRAC rent adjustments to increase Reserve for Replacement deposits. There have been several updates to field office procedures for reviewing Capital Needs Assessments (CNAs) and determining how capital needs should be reflected in annual PRAC project operating rents.   

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced it is implementing exceptions and extensions for upcoming measure reporting and data submission deadlines for several quality reporting programs.  

The deadline to apply for the first round of emergency assistance funding from the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), a total of $50 million for health care provider, is midnight TODAY.  

As part of the national emergency declaration in response to COVID-19, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced that they are waiving the three-day hospital stay requirement before a Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF) Medicare A stay.